Plans for a “state-of-the-art” care home have been given the green light.
The scheme on the edge of Fordingbridge from Highwood Ventures 19 Limited also features eight open market dwellings.
Members of New Forest District Council planning committee approved the application for the land east of Whitsbury Road at Tinkers Cross at a meeting on Wednesday, April 9.
Martin Hawthorne, planning director of Highwood Homes who will develop the site, said: “There is a considerable and ever-growing need for high quality provision for our vulnerable older people.
“This application is for a state-of-the-art care home of 68 bedrooms which will be delivered in partnership with our partner Hartford Care.
“In addition, we are providing eight houses, with the majority being chalet bungalows, which are specifically aimed at the downsizing market.”
The care home’s bedrooms split across two floors, with break out spaces and communal, living and dining areas, as well as a dedicated car park.
The dwellings, located on the north of the site, will be six detached and two semi-detached properties, with one four-bed, one three-bed and six two-bed homes.
Resident car parking is provided through surface parking, garages and car ports.
No affordable housing was required in planning policy as the development features less than 10 residential houses, council officers said.
A new access road will be created off Whitsbury Road and there will be a public open space on the site.
The developer is required to provide financial contributions for off-site play space, formal open space and footpath improvements.
Planning committee member Cllr Malcolm Wade said it was “quite a nice development”.
The improvement to the footpaths was welcomed by Fordingbridge, Godshill and Hyde ward councillor Phil Woods.
Cllr John Sleep raised a broader point around recently approved care home schemes.
”We have seen a couple of developments like this with the care homes,” Cllr Sleep said.
“They’re really impressive the way they’re designed but as I look at it compared to the simplicity of a building, I just wonder if anyone can afford to live in them.
“When we actually control such a lovely design, someone has got to pay for all the elevations and changes in the brickwork. That confuses me a bit.”
Conditions in the approval removed permitted development rights meaning planning permission would be needed in the future should anyone wish to change the use of the care home, make extensions to the dwellings or convert the car ports to garages.
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